Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has called for an immediate increase in the nation’s health budget.
The association, a member of the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) project, said the budget should not only be increased but should be released on time and used judiciously.
Leader of the Abuja chapter of the association, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu, who spoke at the weekend during an advocacy visit to the Ona of Abaji, Adamu Yunusa, said an increase in the budget would help tackle the four PACFaH advocacy issues.
Though Mrs. Aliyu commended the government’s efforts at increasing the health budget from 4.13 per cent to 4.17 per cent proposed in the 2017 Budget, she said “it is still less than the government’s commitment of the Abuja declaration of 2001 to allocate 15 per cent of annual government expenditure to health.”
She said: “The 2017 budget is yet to be passed by the National Assembly. However, Senate President Bukola Saraki has pledged to ensure an increase in the health allocation, to be higher than what was proposed by the Executive. The budget is expected to be passed by the Senate this week.
“The PACFaH project is an innovative intervention implemented by eight leading Nigerian Civil Society Organisations who have adopted advocacy as a strategy in tackling challenges in policy and budgeting with a view to advancing child and family health in Nigeria.
“The PACFaH advocacy issues include treatment of childhood killer diseases – pneumonia and diarrhoea – routine immunisation, nutrition and family planning.”
Mrs. Aliyu pleaded for the continuous support of the monarch, to fight against all challenges militating against child and family health.
According to her, traditional rulers are highly respected in their communities, making them the right persons to advocate on the health challenges facing people at the grassroots.
In his response, the monarch commended the association for taking the visit and the PACFaH project, saying “it is a necessity to increase the health budget for the benefit of all, especially those in the rural areas.”
He pledged to inform the minister of health of the visit and work with the government on all the issues presented during this visit. (Premium Times)
